Lake Wilderness Olympic Triathlon, June 21, 2026. Finish time 4:00:20. A wet, eventful day that taught me more than a smooth one ever could. Here’s how it went.
How the day looked by the numbers
| Segment | 2026 Time | 2026 Pace | 2025 Time | 2025 Pace | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swim | 41:01 | 2:19 / 100 yds | 40:24 | 2:28 / 100 yds | Steadier rhythm; Samena sessions helped |
| T1 | 4:15 | — | 3:24 | — | Calmer, less rushed |
| Bike | 2:07:03 | 13.1 mph | 2:04:10 | 13.43 mph | Better on the hills; rain slowed the back half |
| T2 | 2:16 | — | 2:08 | — | Steady |
| Run | 1:05:45 | 10:37 / mile | 1:08:16 | 11:25 / mile | Managed through calf tightness and the storm |
| Total | 4:00:20 | — | 3:59:21 | — | Similar time, harder conditions |
Winter work: Samena and the trainer
The race really started in winter. Sunday Samena swim sessions became a quiet anchor — showing up to a warm pool on cold mornings, working on form, and slowly getting more comfortable in the water. Those laps added up.
Mid-week, the focus shifted to the bike. Wednesday rides with Allison and the indoor sessions with PRP and Coach Paul Raknes changed how I approached this leg. For the first time, I trained the bike seriously rather than just hoping to get through it. Average speed moved from around 12.5 mph to close to 15 mph over the months.
Allison also helped me think differently about racing itself. We build a race plan that covers goals, what-ifs, nutrition, and the mental state I want to come back to when things get hard. Racing has slowly become less about outcomes and more about the experience — and being grateful for the people and the process that make it possible.
Race morning
Picked up the race packet from Renton on Wednesday. By Friday night everything was laid out. I travel light these days — only what I need. It keeps transitions manageable and my head clearer than it used to be.
Up at 4:00 am, oats, quick shower, loaded the bike, and left around 5:10. Got to the venue by 5:45. Racked the bike, set up the transition area, did a short shake-out jog, and got into the wetsuit. The Seattle triathlon community and PR Performance crew were well represented. Allison and Chris were there cheering, and friends Kavita, Jyoti, Shehzad, Coach Marcus Garcia, and Santiago Bernal were all racing. That kind of company makes a big difference before a start. Took a gel about 30 minutes out, as planned.
Swim
Wave went off at 7:00 am. The lake was calm and I tried to be the same. All those Sunday Samena sessions were somewhere in the back of my mind as I settled into a rhythm. I kept moving without stopping — something I had struggled with in earlier races — and focused on sighting the buoys and staying on course. Came out of the water feeling okay and got through T1 in 4:15.
Bike
The drizzle started almost as soon as I clipped in. The course has some real hills and I have not always handled them well. This time felt different — the cadence work paid off and I moved through the climbs without the usual struggle. I kept my watch on time only, not speed or distance. That helped me stay in the effort instead of second-guessing myself.
Nutrition was simple: a gel and water every 30 minutes, as planned. Never felt the energy dip that has caught me out before. Around mile 20 the rain got heavy — properly heavy. For a few minutes it felt miserable. Then I reminded myself everyone was riding through the same weather, and that this was just the day it turned out to be. That thought helped me settle back in. Came into T2 in 2:16, wet but okay.
Run
The first couple of miles were steady. Then around mile 2 my right calf started tightening up. Not pain exactly, but a stiffness that made every step feel a bit effortful. The rain came back around the same time, harder this time with thunder. The trail was mostly puddles.
This was where it got mentally hard. I just focused on the next tree, the next aid station, the next corner. The volunteers out on the course were something else — standing in the rain, still encouraging everyone who came through. Small moments like that carry you further than you expect. The calf held together. I crossed the finish line in 4:00:20.
What worked
1. Bike preparation
The winter training genuinely showed up. The hills felt more manageable, the cadence felt more natural, and I had enough left in the legs to run. That felt new.
2. Nutrition
Sticking to a simple plan — gel and water every 30 minutes — meant I never hit a wall. Easy thing to get right when you actually follow through on it.
3. Mental approach
Allison and I had talked through the race beforehand, including the what-ifs. When the rain and the calf happened at the same time, I had something to come back to. Stay in the mile you’re in. That helped.
What needs work
1. Strength training
The calf tightness on the run is the body sending a message. After longer events I’m noticing more niggles that tell me the strength work has been inconsistent. Back with my PT now to sort this out properly.
2. Weight and overall conditioning
Carrying a few extra pounds. My goal is to get back to a weight that feels right, just lighter and more efficient across all three legs. Something to work on between now and the next race.
Grateful to be here
This was a hard day in the best kind of way. The weather was not kind, the body had its own ideas on the run, and nothing went perfectly. But that is kind of the point. You figure out where you are, you keep going, and you finish. And you come away knowing a little more about yourself than when you started.
Grateful for the coaches, the community, the volunteers, the friends who were out there racing, and the family that makes all of this possible. Lake Wilderness 2026 — done.
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